Device for Controlling Leaks From an Endoscope

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for controlling leaks from an endoscope, connected to the operating segment at the proximal end of the endoscope. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: a connection valve ( 2 ) for connecting the device to the endoscope ( 1 ), said valve being connected to the end of a tubular external housing ( 3 ), the opposite end of which housing is provided with an internal piston ( 4 ), also tubular, the size and shape of which are such that it moves in a sealed manner inside the housing in a direction parallel to the axis ( 5 ) of rotation of the housing ( 3 ) and the actual piston ( 4 ), said piston ( 4 ) having a test line ( 7 ) perpendicular to the axis ( 5 ) of rotation thereof.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This application for an invention patent is comprised in the field ofmedicine, more specifically to the field of controlling the correctoperation or testing of an endoscope. This control is focused on thedetection of possible leaks from it.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

At present, it is normal practice after the use of an endoscope in anexploration or an intervention by endoscopy, for the doctor to conduct acompulsory sealing test on the endoscope before using it again, toprevent any potential problems with leaking when it is used again.

Traditionally, this check or test is carried out using a conventionalpressure gauge by pumping air or by suction, with a view to checkingwhether or not the pressure remains constant in time. Although thismethod is simple, there are several drawbacks, including the false leaksthat take place owing to the deterioration of the pressure gauge tube,and the fact that it is difficult to read the pressure on the clock.

A large number of methods have subsequently been implemented to checkwhether endoscopes are sealed, some of which involve blowing a certainamount of air into the endoscope and submerging it in a tank full offluid and checking if there are any leaks, these manifesting themselvesin the form of bubbles inside the tank. Logically, this method requiresthe availability of such a tank, the drawback being that once the testhas been conducted the endoscope has to be dried, which takes time.

Other systems are based on the insertion of complex electronic systemsbased on pressure detectors, which establish the pressure at differentpoints inside the endoscope, comparing the measurements and establishingwhether or not there are any leaks. These systems, apart from beingextremely delicate and requiring careful handling, are also very costly.

In view of the above, a need has been detected to provide a very simpledevice that based on a simple housing and a piston, manages to quicklyand rather cheaply establish whether or not there are any leaks insidethe endoscope.

This aim is achieved with an invention that is defined in claim 1; inthe subsequent claims, preferred embodiments of the invention aredefined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for controlling leaks from anendoscope that is connected to the operating section of the endoscope atthe proximal end thereof. Specifically, this device is characterised inthat it contains a connection valve from the device to the endoscope,connecting said valve to the end of an outer tubular casing that isequipped with an interior piston at the opposite end, which is alsotubular and whose size and shape are such that it moves inside thehousing, running in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of thehousing and the actual piston, said piston having a test lineperpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof, this line being locatedat a certain distance from the free end of the piston.

Thus, thanks to a very simple device, the user manages to determinewhether or not there are leaks inside the endoscope, using the device inthe following way.

First of all, the valve for the device is connected to one of theopenings leading into the endoscope, the valve is closed rendering itsealed and once this is done the piston is moved with respect to thehousing, in such a way that either a suction effect is caused extractingsome of the air inside the endoscope or air is blown into the endoscope.This operation can be carried out one or more times depending on therelative size between the endoscope and the piston, that is to say,depending on the amount of volume of air that the device is able todrive in each particular case. Once certain pressure conditions havebeen reached inside the endoscope, the user will stop acting on thepiston and will observe the test line. If its position has undergone anymovement with respect to the position it was in when action on thepiston ceased, this means that there is some type of leak in theendoscope. On the contrary, when the test line remains in its sameposition, this means that there is no leak at all and that the endoscopeis ready to be used again. Therefore, the device that is the object ofthis invention, which is very simple in constitution, easy to handle andcheap to manufacture, enables its user to quickly find out whether ornot there are any leaks in the endoscope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of the endoscope to which the devicethat is the object of the invention has been coupled.

FIG. 2 shows a view to a larger scale of the endoscope zone to which thedevice is connected, when the device is actually connected.

FIG. 3 shows a view in perspective of the device that is the object ofthis invention when it is idle.

FIG. 4 shows a view in perspective of the device that is the object ofthis invention when it is in an actuation position, exerting pressure onthe piston.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the figures discussed and in accordance with the numberingadopted, a non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention can beseen, consisting of a sensitive switch-button.

FIG. 1 shows a view in general perspective of an endoscope (1) to whichthe device that is the object of this invention is connected via aconnection valve (2) to an outlet (8) on the endoscope located in itsoperating section.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, for example, said connection valve (2) in thispreferred embodiment, consists of a kind of circular nut, whose threadis on the interior, which is equipped with a series of ribs (9) arrangedlengthways to facilitate the valve tightening and loosening, it alsobeing equipped with a small stopcock (10) to expel the air from insidethe endoscope.

The aforementioned connection valve (2) has connected to it in a sealedmanner and perpendicular to its axis of rotation, an external tubularhousing (3), which in this embodiment of the invention will be made ofplastic that is highly resistant to pressure. Just inside said housing(3), the device is equipped with an inner piston (4) which is alsotubular and fits in a perfectly sealed manner in said housing, it beingable to move parallel to the axis (5) of rotation of said housing (3).At a certain distance from the free end (6) of the piston (4) there is atest line (7), which consists of a mark in a colour different from thepiston (4) that is circular and perpendicular to the axis (5). Thedistance at which this test line (7) is calculated, depends in each caseon the positive pressure (blowing) or negative pressure (suction) thatthe user wishes to obtain in the endoscope (1). The sealing between thepiston (4) and the housing (3) will be achieved by inserting o-ringseals (not shown in the figures) outside the piston or inside thehousing.

By use of the aforementioned piston (4) in its lengthwise movement withrespect to the housing (3) and thanks to the stopcock (10), a certainamount of air from inside the endoscope can be expelled, therebyachieving a negative pressure or vacuum situation, or a positivepressure situation. Once such a situation has been reached, the userstops operating the piston and observes the displacement of the testline (7) to establish whether there are pressure losses and thus leaksin the endoscope. FIG. 4 shows the position of the piston (4) when ithas reached the end of the piston run (3) with respect to the housing(4) when the user exerts a certain amount of pressure on it.

1. Device that controls the leaks from an endoscope that is connected tothe operating section of the endoscope at the proximal end, comprising:a connection valve connecting the device to the endoscope the connectionvalve being connected to the end of an exterior tubular housing that isequipped on the opposite end with an interior piston, which is alsotubular and whose size and shape are such that it moves inside thehousing, running parallel to the axis of rotation of the housing and theactual piston in a sealed manner, the aforementioned piston beingequipped with a test line perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof.